Ellis Island Tours and Tickets

No, visitors have to book combination tours. Many visitors visit the island and the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island nearby. Combination experiences typically include ferry transfers from Battery Park in downtown Manhattan and allow free time to explore both islands at your own pace.

It depends. Generally, 2-3 hours are enough to take a self-guided or ranger-led tour and view the exhibits at the National Museum of Immigration. Visiting the Statue of Liberty takes about another 1-2 hours. Ferry rides from Battery Park take about 10-15 minutes.

To avoid crowds, visit Ellis Island on weekdays. And the earlier you can get there, the better, as you will likely dodge crowds and have more time to explore. To guarantee you’ll be one of the first daily visitors, book a ride on the first ferry of the morning, usually at 9am.

One-way ferry rides to Ellis Island take about 10-15 minutes. From Ellis Island to Liberty Island, it’s another 15 minutes. A final 15-minute route takes visitors back to the initial pickup spot, either Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

Yes, ferries to Ellis Island have bathrooms and concession stands with snacks and a small selection of souvenirs. The ferries and restrooms are wheelchair-accessible, and passengers can sit inside or outside. Neither smoking nor drinking alcohol is permitted.